Kremlin says no talks with New Delhi on halting Russian oil trade

February 3, 2026

Moscow / New Delhi: The Kremlin on Tuesday rebutted recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding India’s alleged decision to halt purchases of Russian crude oil amidst a broader India‑U.S. trade deal. Kremlin officials said that no talks have been held with New Delhi yet on stopping Russian oil imports, directly challenging the U.S. leader’s assertions.

Trump’s Claims on India and Russian Oil

Recent statements by President Trump linked India’s trade negotiations with the United States to its energy policy, suggesting that New Delhi would agree to stop buying discounted Russian oil as part of a deal that included significant tariff reductions on Indian exports to the U.S. Trump framed this as a diplomatic win aimed at weakening Russia’s economic strength amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

However, the Kremlin’s rebuttal underscores that Moscow has not engaged in any formal discussions with India about halting oil shipments, and such claims do not reflect the current status of India‑Russia oil trade negotiations.

Kremlin’s Official Response

A Kremlin spokesperson stated that while global energy and trade alignments are evolving, there has been no direct engagement with Indian authorities on stopping purchases of Russian crude. This response implicitly questions the accuracy of Donald Trump’s public statements about India’s energy commitments.

Russian officials have previously emphasized bilateral ties with India, calling the historic relationship “important” and indicating a desire to continue cooperation across defence, trade and energy sectors despite geopolitical pressures.

Context: India’s Energy Policy and Global Pressures

India has historically been one of the major buyers of Russian crude oil, particularly since the Ukraine war began in 2022, attracted by discounted prices in global markets. While Trump’s recent trade talks with India have stressed shifts in energy sourcing, India’s government and Russian sources have repeatedly noted that no binding agreements exist to cease Russian oil imports.

New Delhi has also underscored that its energy decisions are based on commercial and consumer priorities, not external pressure, and remain aimed at ensuring stable supplies and affordable prices for the Indian market.

Wider Diplomatic Context

This latest diplomatic response comes amid a major India‑U.S. trade agreement announced by Presidents Modi and Trump, involving tariff reductions and economic engagement on both sides. Trump’s assertions swept key aspects of the deal — including claims about energy policy — into global headlines.

But the Kremlin’s statement suggests that any linkage between the trade pact and India’s Russian oil purchases remains unverified at a diplomatic level, highlighting that full policy shifts in energy trade would require extended negotiations and mutual consent — not yet undertaken.

What This Means for India‑Russia Relations

Russia continues to regard its relationship with India as a strategic partnership, open to deepening cooperation across economic and defence ties even amid shifting global pressures. Moscow’s reiteration that it has not held talks with New Delhi on halting oil trade helps maintain its stance that energy cooperation is a bilateral decision rooted in each nation’s interests.

In the short term, the Kremlin response signals that Russia is cautious about external narratives linking its energy trade to unrelated diplomatic engagements — reinforcing the sovereignty of trade decisions between sovereign nations.